Don’t Sweat It - Lavanila’s Healthy Deodorant

When I exercise I neither perspire nor glow...I SWEAT. Hand me two towels after 45 minutes of spinning and 15 minutes of jumping rope. That’s healthy; it means my body is fit and cooling itself down, naturally. When I heard of LAVANILA's The Healthy Deodorant, I loved the idea of a healthy deodorant for my healthy body. But would it be as effective as my non-organic deodorant? I tested each arm pit - one using a powerful chemical deodorant and one using Lavanila’s Pure Vanilla deodorant. The results: equally effective, except for the fact that one underarm smelled delicious.

WHY IT’S HEALTHY:

Gifts of Fragrance that Think Outside the Bottle

 

What smells like heaven on you often ends up in someone else's 're-gift' pile, so as a fragrance specialist, I rarely recommend giving the gift of perfume or cologne for the holidays, unless the recipient specifically asks for it. But if you know your giftee-to-be's fave fragrance, so does everyone else. Does anyone really need 12 bottles of their favorite fragrance under the tree? Do not despair..."Scent-a Claus" is here with the Fashiontribes Scented Holiday Gift Guide that will surely please even the pickiest perfumistas and discriminating connoisseurs:

It's Stock Up at Sephora Time! Living Proof Shampoo & Conditioner

Regardless of how many beauty products you own and test as a Beauty Editor (ie. pretty much every product and brand), the siren call of 20% off at Sephora sings as loudly to me as it does to you. Most beauty, fragrance and skincare products don't have a long shelf life, so haircare is my choice for a Sephora stock up, and in particular, Living Proof. After arriving stateside in 2008, the brand quickly attained cult status for its anti-frizz formulations; their newest products are so simple, they're ingenious: one shampoo, one conditioner - that's all. With thousands of products marketed to specific hair types and conditions - perplexing us with too many choices - Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner cut through the clutter. After testing various shampoos and conditioner, this is my Editor Fave, and not just for my mane, but for all the myriad hair 'types' ranging from fine to coarse, curly to straight.

DESIGNER DENIM 24/7: Wear Your Motocross Jeans Fashionista Style! (Video)

Denim is much like the LBD these days - it's a wardrobe staple that you can wear so many places, it's easier to list where you can't. This week, we've been showing you how to dress a single pair of fabulous Balmain motocross jeans up or down for all the various events on the social calendar this season, including - so far - a holiday party and for brunch/shopping. In today's episode of DAILY DOSE OF STYLE, get the scoop on rocking your jeans like a full-on Fashionista! (Want more info on any of the goodies featured in today's episode? CLICK HERE.)

- Lesley Scott

Prada L'Eau Ambree - From the House that Muiccia Built

Prada.

The brand conjures up a single image: the epitome of Italian chic, and pricey - but not precious.

Miuccia Bianchi Prada started breathing life back into House of Prada when she joined the family business (run by her mother) in 1970. In 1978, she unveiled the classic Prada backpack: simple, sleek, and fabricated from black nylon, and by 1985, it was an overnight sensation. In a decade of excess, the Prada bag was functional, sturdy, practical, and yet still fashionable; unlike the frou frou fantasy collections of the moment, the Prada aesthetic was wearable, yet distinctive.

Rocker Edge with Mad Plaid

Plaid is a really fun way to smarten up a rocker'y edge look, while edgy touches like this fab deconstructed Margiela top layered over shredded skinnies create a crafty balance between naughty and nice.  A smoky eye is, of course, de rigeur, and a field bag in an offbeat but complimentary plaid adds a clever, fun touch.

About the look:

Fight Holiday Weight Gain with Pumpkins & Pushups

During the holiday, food is love, which means it's okay to eat latkes, stuffing, candy canes, and other goodies...which is probably why most Americans gain between 8 to 12 pounds over the holidays (ie. an increase of up to 2 dress sizes).  However, before you despair of choosing between familial love and love of your non-fat pants, follow Mary Fugle's advice and plan ahead.  There's only one way to eat your fruitcake without packing on the pounds advises Fugle, the owner of WiseWomenWorkouts: maintain your fitness level by doing MORE exercise over the holidays. By raising your endorphin levels, you help keep those jeans fitting right instead of tight. 

Designer Denim 24/7: WEAR YOUR MOTOCROSS JEANS...to Brunch!

Denim is much like the LBD these days - it's such a wardrobe staple that you can wear so many places, it's almost easier to list where you can't. This week, we're taking a fabulous pair of Balmain motocross jeans and dressing them up and down for all the various events on the social calendar this season. So far, we've discussed wearing your jeans to a holiday party, and today, we take them out to a stylish brunch &/or shopping expedition with the girls.  (Want more info on any of the goodies featured in this episode of DAILY DOSE OF STYLE? CLICK HERE.)

- Lesley Scott

Turkey Neck, Au Revoir! ORLANE B21 FIRMING SERUM NECK & DECOLLÉTÉ

‘Gobblers’ and ‘wattles’ look enticing on turkeys..not women. Unfortunately, one sure sign of age is the inevitable pull of gravity around the neck; having no bone support, the epidermis of the neck and bust is subjected to constant physical exertion, and firm tissue eventually slackens and loses its elasticity. In addition, exposure to UVA and UVB rays and the environment only speed up the the aging process. The result: time takes its turkey-like toll on the highly vulnerable neck area. To address these specific problems (short of a surgical procedure), ORLANE Paris developed what is now one of my favorite neck treatments: B21 FIRMING SERUM – NECK & DECOLLÉTÉ.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday e-Shopping: Stylish Steals & Fashionable Deals

Don't say we didn't warn you...wireless navigation Networks in Motion (NIM) just released findings surrounding GPS nav usage for Black Friday, and these are the Top 10 destinations you'll want to avoid in person at all costs:

1. Walmart
2. Best Buy
3. Target
4. Starbucks
5. Circuit City
6. Sam's Club
7. The Mall
8. Kohl's
9. Toys R Us
10. Bank of America

While Walmart was the most searched destination by a significant margin, many "seasoned Black Friday shoppers will not spend all their time in one store," NIM warns, "but will instead travel to as many stores as possible to fulfill all their shopping needs." Savvy NYC shoppers will no doubt be downloading the Lustr Fashion App to have at their fingertips up-to-the-minute deals from retailers, including brands carried, prices, promos, and events. (Download it before Dec. 12th & you'll be entered to win the Ultimate Lustrous Goodie Bag: $1500 worth of loot including a $200 voucher for minicentroshoes.com, a Sarar silk scarf, and Clarins Holiday gift Set.)

So take our advice: Eat lots, then tune out (the fam), tune in (to your computer...see Chilax-Pandora below), and shop-shop-shop 'til you drop online.  Here are our recommendations for navigating the Black Friday/Cyber Monday SHOP-travaganza:

Enjoy the Luxury of Rocking a 16.5 Carat Stunner...Just Like in "The Necklace"

When Jonell McLain laid eyes on an ultra-pricey diamond necklace in a local jewelry store, lust predictably ensued...followed by introspection. "Why are personal luxuries so plentiful yet accessible to so few?" wondered the Ventura, Cali resident. "What if we shared what we desired? Several weeks, dozens of phone calls, and a leap of faith later, Jonell and 12 other women jointly purchased the bauble with the goal of sharing it. This experiment (essentially a fine jewelry timeshare) was the subject of "The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment That Transformed Their Lives" by Cheryl Jarvis. Lending sparkle in surprising and unexpected ways, the necklace comes to mean something dramatically different to each of the thirteen vastly dissimilar women; part charm, part metaphor, part mirror, the necklace weaves in and out of each woman’s life, reflecting her past, defining her present, making promises for her future.

Jovoy Paris: All in the Olfactive Family

Robert Piguet, Lubin, and Caron are very much ‘au courant’ these days - part of the current craze for resurrecting the legacy of houses of perfumery past. The sleeper in ‘everything old is new again’ perfumery, and my personal favorite, is Jovoy Paris. Created in 1923 and brought back in 2006 by co-founders Blanche Arvoy and members of her family, the brand was so obscure that it was not well known even among collectors.

Packaged in 30s Perlinette-inspired flacons complete with pearl-shaped actuator and presented in Pellaq-leather covered cylindrical cases, there are seven fragrances in the collection, Les 7 Parfums Capitaux; developed by perfumer Amandine Marie, they are based on the main fragrance or olfactive family classifications: Hespéridé, Fougère, Chypre, Marine, Poudré, Oriental and Boisé.

Each of the seven fragrances can be worn alone or mixed with others, creating an experience that goes beyond what the Perfumer created for the Wearer, to how the Wearer interprets the perfume. Each scent evokes a unique perspective and the best way to experience Jovoy is to custom-blend the essential scents to create your signature scent.

DESIGNER DENIM 24/7: WEAR YOUR JEANS...to a Cocktail Party (Video)

Denim is much like the LBD these days - it's such a wardrobe staple that you can wear so many places, it's almost easier to list where you can't. This week, we'll show you how to dress a single pair of fabulous Balmain motocross jeans up or down for all the various events on the social calendar this season. In today's episode, we show how to dress jeans up for a sexy Holiday Party look! (Want more info on any of the goodies featured in this episode of DAILY DOSE OF STYLE? CLICK HERE.)

- Lesley Scott

Snag Online Fashionista Steals & Deals at Beyond the Rack

Like an elusive NYC designer sample sale - just daily and held online - Beyond the Rack is a members-only shopping club (for fashionistos, too) that holds limited-time sales of top-of-line brands like Prada, Balenciaga, Tom Ford, and J Brand, with prices up to 70% off retail. Members can set preferences and get emailed in advance about any upcoming sales that are to your taste...which is a good thing, because typically, each sale starts at a specific time (11 am NYC time) and lasts only 48 hours - and when the event is over, so is the merch!  Be sure to join the fun (it's free!) at BeyondTheRack.com.

- Lesley Scott

A Glam Rhinestone Rhino Brooch that Helps Save Real Rhinos

Crafted in the Czech Republic, this piece was hidden away in the vault of a Prague jewelry house for at least 50 years - and epitomizes the vintage glamour of the Mad Men era when women dressed to kill...and men enjoyed the thrill!

50% of the price (£29.99) of these limited edition Rhinestone Rhinos goes to the WWF, which is fighting to save the world's many animals on the edge of extinction - notably the elusive black rhinos of Kenya.

Available at MadAboutJewellery.com.

- Lesley Scott